1951 Kaiser DeLuxe

The 1951 Kaiser DeLuxe was the top-line series in Kaiser's all-new
second-generation lineup. A daring and successful styling departure for its
day, it featured the lowest beltline and greatest glass area in the industry --
a distinction it would retain until Virgil Exner's 1957 Chrysler products
appeared.

The 1951 Kaiser DeLuxe was designed largely by Howard "Dutch" Darrin,
assisted by Duncan McRae, with detail trim applied by Herb Weissinger. The
wheelbase was shortened five inches, and the unique Traveler utility
sedan/wagon model was continued, bolstered by a two-door running mate.

Unfortunately, power continued to be the Kaiser L-head six, which was already
becoming increasingly old-hat as other makes had or were adopting modern V-8s.
Kaiser never would get one, though, and this was one factor that caused sales
to spiral downward, leading eventually to the death of the Kaiser marque.Pluses of the 1951 Kaiser DeLuxe:

Beautiful styling, perhaps the best among early-1950s domestics

Good quality

Smooth highway performance

Minuses of the 1951 Kaiser DeLuxe:

Can rust, particularly rocker panels and fenders

Vapor lock a constant problem

Other engine quirks, including overheating

Lack of hardtop and convertible models

Production of the 1951 Kaiser DeLuxe:

Traveler 2-door utility
sedan: 10,000

4-door sedan: 70,000

2-door sedan: 11,000

4-door Traveler utility sedan: 1,000

2-door club coupe: 6,000(estimated breakdowns; total model year production including Specials: 139,452)

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